Signal-box



(No Model.) 2 SheetS -Sheet 1.

M. MARTINL SIGNAL BOX. N0. 425,576. Patented Anr. 15, 1 890.

Maw yM w fi.

n1: mama wax-2m; ca mm'o'umm, wmqmm, o. c.

(N9 Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. MARTIN. SIGNAL BOX.

No. 425.576. Patented Apr. 15,- 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT rricnt MORRIS MARTIN, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MUN ISL PAL SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PORTSMOUTH, NElV HAMPSHIRE.

SIG NAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,576, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed February 25, 1887. Serial No. 228,830. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MORRIS MARTIN, of Malden, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in 5 Signal-Boxes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a signal-box adapted to transmit two difierent kinds of signalssuch, for instance, as fire-alarm and police-alarm signals-by means accessible at the exterior of the box,

, and also to transmit other signals by means accessible at the interior of the box.

In accordance with this invention the box contains a multiple transmitter, a pointer or indicating means for determining the signal to be transmitted, and an actuating member, as a pull, for the transmitter. The box is also provided with a door concealing the pointer and the actuating-pull, and also with two keyholes which are accessible from the exterior of the box, as when the box-door is closed. Two independent actuating mechanisms besides the actuating member or pull above referred to are employed for actuating the transmitter, the said actuating mechanisms being respectively operated by keys inserted in the two key-holes. To enable the two inde pendent actuating mechanisms to operate the transmitter to transmit each a different signal a switch is provided which introduces into the line a co-operative part of the multiple transmitter, which part is normally cut out. The actuating mechanisms are so constructed and arranged with relation to adjacent parts of the box as to lock the key which is employed to move them when once inserted in the key-hole and turned, the said key being afterward released, preferably by opening the boxdoor.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a signalbox embodyingthis invention, the door being open 5 Fig. 2, a rear side View of the face-plate, which is concealed by the door and which has the operating parts secured to it; Fig. 3, a vertical section of one of the actuating mechanisms containing the switch; Fig. 4, a sec- 50 tion of the actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 3, taken on the dotted line .r .r; and Fig. 5, a diagram showing a circuit containing multiple signal-transmitter and suitable receiving apparatus.

The box or case A has a face-plate a and a door A fitted to it. A suitable frame a is secured to the rear side of the plate a, as shown in Fig. 2, said frame supportinga multiple signaltransmitting device, preferably of the construction shown and described in United States Patent'No. 320,032, to which reference maybe had, said multiple signaltransmitting device comprising a motor and a series of break-wheels, as m m, &c., contact-pens therefor, a SlJLl3l3ll1g-l6X-'Gl'77l and an actuating-pull c for the starting-lever.

I have herein shown anon-interfering mechanism comprising a pivoted locking device (27, which is substantially the same as shown and described in an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me, Serial No. 222,330, to which reference may be had, the function of the locking mechanism and its co-operation with the neighboring parts being to prevent tampering with the signal, as set forth in the said application.

The actuating-pull c is provided with a finger-piece c, passing through a slot or opening 0 in the plate a, so that the transmitter may be set in operation by depressing the pull to transmit any signal desired, depending upon the condition of the transmitter, and, in the present instance, which contact-pen is thrown in contact with its break-wheel by the selecting-cylinder 13, rotated by a pointer 13 which is moved over a stationary dial.

At the lower end of the plate a two keyholes at n are cut and at the rear side of each key-hole an actuating mechanism is situated, supported in a frame 71 which frame consists of two disks e e rigidly connected together by a shank portion and secured to the plate by the side pins 20. The actuating mechanism at the rear side of the key-hole n consists of a wheel or pulley a, mounted upon the shank portion connecting the two disks 6' e. The wheel or roller e is provided at one side with a pin or stud a which passes through a curved slot a, cut in the disk 6 near its periphery, so that the said disk or roller may be rotated for a distance corresponding with the length of the slot. One end of a chain or cord 1) is secured to the periphery of the roll e by a pin or other suitable fastening, the opposite end of the chain being secured to the actuating-pull a, so that as the roll is revolved the chain or cord will be drawn to move the pull, and thereby operate the transmitter. 19 passes through the frame 11 the rear end 19' of .the plug projecting outward from the frame into the key-hole to enter the socketed end of a key.

When the key is inserted, the portion 19' enters the socketed end of the key far enough to permit the end of said key to bear against a shoulder or flange f of the plug, and then by a still further movement of the key the said plug will be pushed forward that its forward end 19 may rub against the contactsprings 19 which are secured to insulated blocks p attached to the disk e of the framen The key having been thus inserted, it may be rotated until its bit strikes the pin or stud c and by still further rotation may rotate the roll 6, to thereby pull the cord or chain.

A spring-controlled detent cl is pivot-ed to the rear side of the plate a, which lies inthe path of movement of the bit of the key to be moved by said bit, and to be returned to its normal position by a spring after the bit has passed beyond it to prevent backward rotation of the key, and consequently its Withdrawal from the key-hole. The key-hole is enlarged or elongated at its upper side to permit the key 'to be withdrawn; but such opening is, covered by the door of the box, and also receives a projection cast on the inside of the door, so that unless the door he This form of locking device is substantially the opened the key cannot be removed.

same as in the application above referred to. The plug 1) is held out of engagement with the contact-springsp by abifurcated sprin gp.

The actuating mechanism at the rear side of the key-hole n is substantially the same as that just described, the switch-plug 19, however, being omitted, and the chain or cord 1) is extended and attached to the periphery of' the roller of this actuating mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that by the two actuating mechanisms described the actuating member of the transmitter may be moved by operating either of the said mechanisms by theirrespective keys.

As it is designed that one of the actuating mechanisms should eflect through the transmitter the transmission of a signal different from that effected. by the other-as, for instance, one should cause a fire-alarm signal and the other a police-alarm signal to be transmitted-it is the function of the switch-plug p, above described, to cut in and out that cooperative part of the multiple signal-transmitter which is employed to transmit the par= ticular signal desired.

A plug By referring to Fig. 5, a diagram is shown fully illustrating the manner in which the box-number will always be transmitted, either alone or in conjunction with any special signal desired. The break-wheel m is arranged to transmit the box-number, and, together with its contact-pen, is continually in the main line L, so that whenever the actuating pull or member of the transmitter is operated the break-wheel Will revolve. The breakwheel m is arranged to transmit a special signalas, for instance, a signal indicating fireand said break-wheel, with its contactpen,is connected-byawi're Z ,with one of the contact-springs 10 while the other contact-spring the penof the other break-wheel is disengaged from its break-wheel by the cut-away portion, and vice versa, so that one signal as, for instance, a fire-alarm signalmay be transmitted, followed by the box-number.

The main line L contains a battery L and a relay L which effects the operation of a suitable receiving-instrument.

By thus providing a signal-box with tw ind ependent actuating mechanisms accessible by keys from the exteriorof the box, and also with a switch which is moved by one of the keys, two different signals may be transmitted by means of a single-transmitting apparatus contained in the box.

1. In a signal-box, a multiple signal-transmitter having a manual signal-selecting device adapted to be moved to set the transmitter for different signals, and a switch co-operating with the said transmitter for an additional signal, and an actuating device or pull for the transmitter, combined with two additional actuating devices for the transmitter and keys therefor, the said switch beingmoved by one of said keys, substantially as described.

2. In a signal-box, a multiple signal-transmitter and pull. or actuating device for it concealed by a door and another actuating device for it accessible from the exterior of the box, combined with a third actuating device for the said transmitter, accessible from the exterior of the box, akey for it, and a switch moved by the said key for including a co-operative part of the said transmitter, substantially as described.

3. In a signal-box, a multiple signal-transmitter, a pull for it, and. an actuating device operatively connected with said pull by a chain or cord, and a key for said actuating device, combined withanothe'r actuating de- IIO o it, and a switch moved by the said key for includinga co-operative part of the said transmitter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MORRIS MARTIN.

Witnesses BERNICE J NoYEs, F. L. EMERY. 

